Congratulations on your engagement! This is such a joyful and exciting time in your life and we are thrilled for you! The sacrament of matrimony is a powerful sacrament binding two hearts and lives into one. Your marriage will also be a daily witness of God’s love in our diocese and world. Your parish is eager to help you prepare for your future life as a spouse and parent, so connect with them as soon as you are able. Below you will find additional resources and information to aid in your preparation.

Good luck as you journey to your big day and God bless! 

General Requirements

If you are not registered with a parish, do so.  (you must be registered with a parish to be married) 

Meet with your pastor (and the pastor of the Parish in which you will be married if different from your home parish)  

Nine (9) months preparation time.

Attend six (6) hrs of A Lasting Promise (previously "We C.A.R.E.") classes. (see below for more details)

Attend the Catholic Faith Formation sessions in the Lansing area. (see below for the most current schedule)

Attend the Introduction to Natural Family Planning 

Complete FOCCUS, the marriage inventory/questionnaire and consultation that your Priest or Deacon assigns.

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A Lasting Promise is a Christian communication and relationship enhancement program that is designed to teach couples communication skills and techniques for handling conflict and promoting intimacy with the aim of preventing future problems and divorce.  This program emphasizes constructive arguing techniques that allow couples to adjust their communication styles and achieve more positive and intimate communication in a Christian setting.  Other key topics include: Values, Beliefs, Expectations, and Commitment.
St. Vincent Catholic Charities facilitates this program every month.
For more information and a link to the on-line registration form, please use the link below.
https://stvcc.org/services/alastingpromise

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"Natural Family Planning (NFP) is the general title for the scientific, natural and moral methods of family planning that can help married couples either achieve or postpone pregnancies.

NFP methods are based on the observation of the naturally occurring signs and symptoms of the fertile and infertile phases of a woman's menstrual cycle. No drugs, devices, or surgical procedures are used to avoid pregnancy.

Since the methods of NFP respect the love-giving (unitive) and life-giving (procreative) nature of the conjugal act, they support God's design for married love!"  (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)

For answers to frequently asked questions, please visit:
https://www.dioceseoflansing.org/vocations/natural-family-planning-faqs

For a schedule of NFP classes, please visit:
https://www.dioceseoflansing.org/vocations/natural-family-planning-class-schedule

To register for an NFP class, please visit:
https://www.dioceseoflansing.org/NFPintro
 

Facilitate Open, Caring Communication, 
Understanding and Study

The FOCCUS© Pre-Marriage Inventory is a comprehensive, user-friendly tool to help couples prepare for marriage.  The FOCCUS© Inventory is designed to help engaged couples appreciate their unique relationship, learn more about themselves, and discuss topics important to their lifelong marriage.

Below are 10 example questions to which you, the engaged couple will be responding (Each partner answers separately: Agree, Disagree or Uncertain):

When finished, couples will be encouraged to discuss with each other the thoughts, feelings, differences, and priorities that each FOCCUS© Pre-Marriage Inventory item brought to mind.